Monzoni family adopts dry lot system to boost milk yields in Argentina

The Monzoni family in Córdoba, Argentina, has transitioned from traditional pasture-based grazing to a dry lot system to increase dairy production and revenue. Operating two farms totaling 800 hectares in the San Justo department, the family manages a herd of approximately 620 dairy cows.

Under this new model, cows are fed in open-air paddocks with troughs rather than roaming for pasture. This method, combined with milking three times a day, has resulted in an average daily milk yield of 38 liters per cow, with peaks reaching up to 42 or 43 liters. The farm integrates agriculture and livestock, utilizing corn and soybeans for both animal feed and commercial sale.

The family's agricultural roots in the region date back to 1889, when an ancestor immigrated from Lombardy, Italy. After returning to the farm in 2007 to support their mother, Fabio and Marcos Monzoni sought more efficient production methods to ensure the business could sustain multiple family members.